Bright Eyes Shines Atop Singles Chart

Los Angeles – Last week, the two highest debuts on Hot 100 Singles Sales were by Bright Eyes, the musical invention of 24-year-old Nebraskan Conor Oberst. This week, those two singles, “Lua” and “Take It Easy (Love Nothing),” move 18-1 and 7-2, respectively, to take over the top two spots on the survey.

It is the first time in seven years that one artist owns the top two positions on this list. In August 1997, Puff Daddy was No. 1 with Faith Evans on “I’ll Be Missing You” and was featured with Mase at No. 2 on the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems.”

‘HOT’ STUFF

The 4-2 rise of “Drop It Like It’s Hot” (Doggystyle/Geffen) gives Snoop Dogg his biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100. As a lead artist, his highest-ranking song until now was “Beautiful,” a No. 6 hit in 2003 for Snoop and the same artist featured on “Drop It,” Pharrell.

It was exactly a year ago that Snoop peaked at No. 2 as one of the featured artists on Chingy’s “Holidae Inn.”

HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

Michael McDonald’s fifth solo album is the highest-debuting set of his career and his first top 10 title on the Billboard 200 in 22 years. “Motown Two” (Motown), the sequel to last year’s “Motown,” bows at No. 9. That surpasses the peak position of the first “Motown,” which stopped at No. 14 in February.

“Motown Two” is McDonald’s first top 10 solo album since his first record away from the Doobie Brothers, “If That’s What It Takes,” went to No. 6 in 1982.

On Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, “Motown Two” opens a notch higher than on the Billboard 200. By debuting at No. 8, McDonald’s second “Motown” collection becomes the highest-ranked album of his career on the R&B/hip-hop chart. “Motown” peaked at No. 17, and his only other solo R&B/hip-hop chart entry, “If That’s What It Takes,” went to No. 10.

‘RESTLESS’ CHART

Alison Krauss made her debut on Hot Country Singles & Tracks in September 1991 with “Steel Rails,” recorded with Union Station.

Some 13 years later, Krauss lands her first No. 1 on a country singles chart as a lead artist, as “Restless” enters Hot Country Singles Sales in pole position. That beats the No. 2 peak of “When You Say Nothing at All” on the sales chart in July 1995.

On Hot Country Singles & Tracks, Krauss was featured as a guest vocalist with Billy Dean on Kenny Rogers’ chart-topper “Buy Me a Rose” in May 2000.

STEAMROLLED

For the first time in the history of Top New Age Albums, one act owns the top three positions. Mannheim Steamroller had the top two last week, with “Christmas Celebration” (American Gramaphone) at No. 1 and “Halloween: Monster Mix” at No. 2. Now, “Monster Mix” moves back to No. 1, “Christmas” comes in second, and another CD, called simply “Halloween,” ranks third.